San Diego catcher Tim Federowicz applies a late tag on Colorado Rockies’ Rosell Herrera who scores on a single during a spring training game on Sunday, March 8, 2015, in Peoria, Ariz. (Lenny Ignelzi, The Associated Press)

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jordan Lyles delivers against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a spring exhibition baseball game on Sunday, March 16, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (Associated Press)

GLENDALE, ARIZ. — Jordan Lyle’s performance Sunday wasn’t indifferent as much as it was inconclusive. He had an opportunity to create separation in the fifth starter derby and was unable to escape the fifth inning in the Rockies’ 3-3 tie with the Dodgers at Camelback Ranch.

Lyles breezed through three innings, then ran into trouble in the fourth. Adrian Gonzalez punched a groundball through a drawn-in infield, and Juan Uribe doubled. Traffic in the fifth led to an early exit as Lyles reached 75 pitches.

“I felt good. The changes I have made (to get more groundballs) have been beneficial,” said Lyles, who allowed three runs in 4 1/3 innings on five hits.

Lyles’ ERA climbed to 2.92. Statistically he has a slight lead over Franklin Morales. Morales’ versatility could land him in the bullpen. Lyles is viewed only as a starter.

For the first time, manager Walt Weiss asked for a replay challenge. It is limited in scope this spring because few games are televised, and even those offer limited two-to-three camera angles compared to the 12 that will be available during the regular season.

Weiss asked for the review to determine whether Rockies shortstop Rosell Herrera tagged a stealing Logan Schafer in the sixth inning. The delay lasted 1-minute, 50 seconds, and the ruling of safe was upheld.

“A couple of close calls early I thought the umpires got right. On that one there, it was tough to tell. I thought it was worth a shot,” Weiss said. “I thought it was done very well. It was efficient.”

On the first day of the Rockies’ full-squad workouts, he was the lucky (unlucky?) rookie chosen to stand up and address his teammates. The barbs and embarrassing questions (not suitable for a family newspaper blog) came at him like 98 mph fastballs and goofy knuckleballs.

Murphy got a little red-faced, but handle himself well.

The two big-name prospects in camp are pitchers Eddie Butler and Jonathan Gray, both of whom have a shot to pitch for the big-league club at some point this season. But Murphy, a third-round draft choice in 2012, is drawing raves from the organization.

Catcher Tom Murphy is a rising star in the Rockies organization, starting in low-A Asheville last season and finishing at Double-a Tulsa. (Photo by MiLB.com)

“He’s one of those kids who gets it,” assistant general manager Bill Geivett said. “We like his talent, and we like his attitude and how he handles himself.”

Murphy, who played at the University of Buffalo, began last season with low-A Asheville and then jumped to Double-A Tulsa late in the season. He hit .288 with 19 homers in 288 at-bats at Asheville and .290 with three homers in 69 at-bats at Tulsa. He drew rave reviews for his ability to handle pitching staffs and call games.

“It was a good experience,” he said. “I had a couple of months where I rode the wave and was kind of down a little bit. That’s something that good players don’t really do — go up and down — so I was a little disappointed by that. The best players don’t get too high and don’t get too low, and that’s where I want to be.”

Murphy takes pride in his abilities to call games.

“Yeah, I think pride is the right word,” he said. “I like to take pride in my knowledge of the game and knowing what hitters’ tendencies are.”

Murphy has been catching since his first days as a little league.

“I like it,” he said. “You are always involved in the game and I was a hype kid, so it was a good fit.”

There is no timetable for his rise to the majors, though a September call-up is a possibility.

“All of that is out of my control,” he said. “I just have to do what I’m supposed to do and the rest of that stuff will take care of itself.”

SCOTTSDALE — Two years ago, Nolan Arenado was the kid in the clubhouse. Careful not to say or do the wrong thing. He tried so hard to make the Rockies team in every at-bat and with every groundball that he sabotaged his chances.

Last season he should have made the team out of spring training, and when he finally got the call in late April he showed why. He led the Rockies with 133 games played and hit .298 after the all-star break. And, he made history, becoming the first National League rookie third baseman to win the Rawlings Gold Glove.

Arenado ambitiously attacked his offseason, changing to even more explosive training. He plans on playing at 214 pounds, slightly lighter than last year in hopes of imrpoving his lateral quickness.

Former Oklahoma star Jonathan Gray, drafted by the Rockies at No. 3 overall last year, received invite to big league camp. (Bill Feig, The Associated Press)

The Rockies enjoyed an active offseason, adding $33 million in contracts with reinforcements at first base, rotation and the bullpen. Players already in the organization, however, could play just as an important role in shaping a season that the Rockies hope sends them back the playoffs for the first time since 2009.

Pitchers Jonathan Gray and Eddie Butler represent the future. By any measure, they are among the top 50 prospects in baseball, and top 20 when discussing Gray’s potential. They own the ability to front a rotation if they continue on their current trajectory. Their path to the big leagues was accelerated last summer, and they will continue on the fast track this spring.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.